Railroad spike with expanding locking sleeve



June 4, 1963 M. H. BAKER 3,091,991

RAILROAD SPIKE WITH EXFANDING LOCKING SLEEVE Filed June 28, 1960 INV ENTOR.

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United States Patent Office 3,091,991 Patented June 4, 1963 3,091,991 RAILROAD SPIKE WITH EXPANDING LGCKING SLEEVE Meredith H. Baker, 6910 Eastondale Ave., Long Beach, Calif. Filed June 28, 1960, Ser. No. 39,388 1 Claim. (Cl. 85-23) This invention relates to a spike, and more particularly to a spike for use in fastening railroad tracks to ties.

The object of the invention is to provide a spike which includes a novel locking means so that after the spike is driven into the tie, accidental separation of the spike from the tie will be prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock track spike for use in fastening railroad tracks` to railroad ties, and wherein -the spike is constructed so that the track will be held down without the spike working its way up under tratiic conditions.

A further object of the invention is -to provide a lock track spike which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the lock track spike, and showing the position of the parts prior to driving the spike into the track.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken at right angle to the View shown in FIGURE 1, and showing the locking means expanded.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the spike.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating lthe lower portion of the spike.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but taken at right angle thereto.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on the line '7-7 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 is an elevational View illustrating one of the body members which form a part of the locking mechanism.

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the body members which form the locking mechanism.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary elevational view ofta wrench or :tool used for rota-ting the spike after the spike has been driven into the tie.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the use of the present invention in holding down a track on a tie.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates 'the lock track spike of the present invention which is shown to comprise a shank that is indicated generally by the numeral 11, and the shank 11 includes a main body portion =12. of cylindrical formation. As shown in the drawings `there is also provided diametrically opposed spaced apart rows or sets of superimposed teeth 13 on the main body portion 12, and the teeth 13 have sharp outer edges 14.

A head 15 is arranged on the upper end of the spike 10, and the head 15 has a lower surface 16 and the head is also provided with diametrically opposed cutouts or apertures 17. As shown in FIGURE l0, a suitable wrench or tool 1S has prongs or lugs 19 which are adapted to selectively engage the apertures 17 so as to rotate the spike =10 as later described in this application. The wrench 18 may be provided with an elongated handle portion 20.

Arranged below the main body portion 12 is a reduced section Z1, and as shown in the drawings, the upper portion 'of the reduced section 21 is circular in crosssection as indicated by the numeral '22, while the lower portion is elliptical in cross-section as indicated by the numeral 23. In addition, the section 21 has a tapered formation so that the section 21 gradually increases in size from top to bottom for a purpose to be later described. Shoulders 24 and 25- are dened adjacent the upper and lower ends of the section 2,1.

The numeral 26 indicates a cylindrical section which is arranged below the reduced section 21, and a pointed tip 27 is arranged below the cylindrical section 26.

The numeral 28 indicates a locking means for the spike, and the locking means 28 is operatively connected to the .reduced section 21 and is arranged contiguous thereto. The locking means 28 comprises a pair of generally arcuate similar body members 29 with each provided with a plurality of spaced parallel vertically disposed ridges 30. The interior of each body member 29 is hollow or recessed as indicated by the numeral 3.1 and 'these recessed interiors 31 are shaped so that the upper portions 32 are smaller than the lower portions 33 and wherein these recesses 31 are of tapered formation so that they gradually decrease from top to bottom for coaction with the tapering section 21.

In FIGURE ll of the drawings, the lock track spikes of the present invention are shown in use holding down a track 35 which has a iiange 36 on railroad ties 34.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a lock track spike which is especially suitable for use in holding down railroad tracks on ties, as for example as shown in FIGURE ll. In use, with the parts arranged as shown inthe drawings, when the spike 10 is to be driven into a tie such as the tie 34, the locking device 28 is arranged as shown in FIGURE 1 so that the members 2.9 will snugly surround the section 21 and then the spike 10 is driven into the track the proper distance and after the spike has been inserted or driven into the track, a tool such as the -tool 18 is arranged so that its lugs 19 engage the apertures 17 in the head 1S whereby the spike 10 is rotated in the tie and as the spike is rotated the members 29 will expand or move from the position shown in FIGURE l to the position shown in FIGURE 2 so that the lower portions of the members 29 are moved outwardly whereby any tendency of the spike to work upwardly or loose sisted vby these outwardly positioned members 29.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided a spike which isadapted to be driven into a railroad tie and then turned so that the locking mechanism will be actuated. Thus, after the spike has been driven into the tie, it is revolved ninety degrees and in FIGURE 2 there is illustrated a driven position and expanded position of the parts in the tie, while FIGURE l shows the initial position of the locking mechanism.

One of the greatest needs in railroads today is a spike which can be driven into a Itrack tie and wherein the track will be held down without working loose, or without the spike Working its way up under traffic conditions. The present invention provides a drive, turn and lock type of spike which has Ithe advantage of being constructed so that the harder to pull upwards, the harder the resistance of the locking device by flanning itself outward into the wood of the tie. The hal-f sections or members 29 of the locking device may be either magnetized or taped onto the yspike with cellophane tape or the like prior to driving, and once started into the wood, the tape would be peeled off and `the upper shoulder of the spike shank would continue from the tie 34 will be reto force the sections downward. Two sides of the round section 12 have ridges or teeth 13. The locking members 29 have ridges Sti, and these ridges and teeth may have a suitable size such as 1/16 of an inch. When driven completely down with the head of the spike resting against the rail base 36, the spike is `adapted to be turned by means of a special wrench such as the wrench 18 and the spike is turned ninety degrees. The ridges or teeth 13 of the spike shank will now cut into the wood of the tie forming a locking action at this point. In addition the ridges 30 of the locking device have already cnt into the wood and as the spike is turned, they will hold the half members y29 in their same position. The tapered pin section 21 of the spike shank acts as a cam so as to force the two half members 29' of the locking device outward into the tie at an angle. In this position the angle of the tapered pin section `21 will tend to force the half members of the locking device further out o n any increase of pull `on the spike head.

FIGURE 1 shows the teeth or ridges 13 on the sides ot the spike and also in FIGURE 1 the looking device 218 is shown in a closed position. The locking device 28 consists of two similar members which can -be held together on the spike initially in any suitable manner, as for ex ample by means oi. cellophane tape. The members 29 have the vertical ridges 30. The head of the spike is round instead of having a hook shape as do standard track spikes. FIGURES and 6 show the locking members removed for purposes of illustration. The tapered section 21 is adapted to be made of a suitable size such as a quarter of an inch at the top and expands Ito 5/16 of an inch at the bottom.

'Ilhe reduced section 21 may be one-quarter of an inch at the top and may expand to 5/16 of an inch at the bottom. After the spike has been driven into the track tie, the head rests on the base 36 of the rail. After the spike has been given a ninety degree turn it is in `the position of FIG- URE 2 or in the posit-ion shown in FIGURE l1. The ridges on the sides now cut anchoring grooves into the wood, and these grooves hold ythe members in position as the spike is being turned. The cam action spreads the locking member-s approximately one-fourth ot" an inc'n at the bottom. Any upward pull on the spike will tend to exert greater pressure outward against the locking members. The keyways 17 receive portions such as the portions 19 of a wrench 20 so as to facilitate turning of the spike. The recess within each body member 2.9 is substantially complementary to the conguration of the adjacent portion of the reduced section 21 when the body members 29 are in the normal position of FIGURE 1 prior to driving of the shank Il into the tie 34. Upon driving lof the shank 1.1 into the tie 34 and after rotation ofthe shank 11 ay quarter of a turn, the body members 29 are forced outwardly into gripping engagement with the adjacent parts of the tie 34.

The wrench of FIGURE can be used for turning the spike, or in actual practice a long T handle wrench or a special pneumatic impact wrench can be used in construction work. As shown in FIGURE 11, the rails are seated on tie plates 37, and the head of the spike rests on the base of the rail. The expansion of the locking device and the construction of the cam area is such that once the device is spread and it is later desired to remove the spike, reversing the sp-ike ninety degrees and striking a sharp blow on the spike head will dislodge lthe locking segments so as to enable the spike to be pulled upwards.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the iield of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

In a lock track spike, a -shank having a main body portion of cylindrical formation, diametrically opposed spaced apart rows oi teeth which are arranged in superimposed relation on said main body portion, said teeth having sharp outer edges; a head o-n the upper end of the shank and said head being provided with diametrically opposed keyways adjacent its 4outer periphery, said spike further including a reduced section below said main body portion, the reduced section being shaped so that its upper portion is circular in cross-section while the lower portion is elliptical in crossseotion, the reduced section having a tapered formation so that the reduced section gradually increases .in its cross-sectional area irom top to bottom, shoulders deiined adjacent the upper and lower ends of the reduced section; a cylindrical section below said reduced section, a pointed tip below said cylindrical section, Iand a locking means on said reduced section, said locking means comprising a pair of similar arcuate body members each having spaced parallel vertically disposed longitudinally extending ridges on the outer surfaces, the interior of each of said body mem-bers being provided with a recess substantially complementary to y.the contigui-ation oi the adjacent portion of said reduced section when said body members are in a normal position relative to said reduced section, said body members upon rotation of said shank a quarter of a turn being forced outwardly on said reduced section so as to expand into gripping engage ment with the adjacent portions of a tie when said shank has been driven into said tie.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 68,381 Nunn Sept. 3, 1867 395,925- Rose Jan. 8, 1889 453,648 LeBaron Iune 9, 189'1 610,423 Van Ommeren Sept. 6, 1898 977,795 Gronke et al Dec. 6, 1910 2,357,711 Vinson Sept. 5, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 413,403 Great Britain July 19, 1934 

